C4 in the afternoon opening 15 October 1984

Channel Four's first day of programmes starting at 2.30 every weekday, instead of 4.45 or 5.00. The first programme is preceded by FourScore and a preview of their afternoon programmes. The announcer is Linda Thomas.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Channel
• Four
• Opening
• Afternoon
• FourScore
• 1984

[BelfastGav]

As I recall, that sequence (with minor alterations) was also shown the day the channel launched, at closedown the night before the first birthday, at opening on the first birthday, at 4.45 on the first birthday, and at closedown on their second birthday. A slightly different version of it was also shown on Saturday 13 October 1984, I'll see if I can upload that later (though I missed the first second).

[cwilliams1976]

@steviegTVreturns This also enabled Channel 4 Racing to be shown during the week as well, as well as covering the Lords' debates live for the first time. The next extension of hours wasn't until in 1986 when Channel 4 began broadcasting at 9.25am at weekends, and with the introduction of schools programming which had transferred from ITV in September 1987 this was extended to 9.25am during the week. The only exceptions ot this until then was when Channel 4 covered the conferences in the morning

[CaptainSiCo]

Yes, Gav, I remember an alternative version of the film, with a shot of Brookside in it. The orginal film still got pulled out of the archives to use as a filler as late as 1988!

[RobinCarmody]

Hmmmm ... I wonder whether Paul Hardcastle was watching Channel 4 when it started broadcasting in the afternoons?

[CaptainSiCo]

Only on special occasions, such as their first anniversary and here, the first day of the afternoon schedule. The FourScore film was occasionally used as a 'filler' as well - I saw it as late as Dec 1988 after schools programmes just before midday.

I'm sure this is a slightly different edit of the film, and not identical to the one used on launch night. The one used on the first anniversary was also slightly different, and contained a clip from Brookside.

[AidanLunn]

Did they open with the Fourscore video every day back then, or was it just for special events such as this?

[steviegTVreturns]

Channel 4 doing daytime they way they should do daytime, no matter how much cheap filler there is in that line-up. I guess it was an achievement for them to be broadcasting an extra 2 hours a day at that time.

[JHollowayNetwork]

They closedown at 1.00am, they were off the air for 13 hours.